Animal Crossing

Animal Crossing
The Animal Crossing logo
Genre(s)	Life simulation
Developer(s)	Nintendo
Publisher(s)	Nintendo

Animal Crossing, known in Japan as Dōbutsu no Mori (どうぶつの森, lit. "Animal Forest"), is a video game series developed by Nintendo, in which the player lives his/her own virtual life in a village populated with anthropomorphic animals. The game takes place in real time, reflecting the current time of day and season. The individual games have been widely praised for their uniqueness and innovative nature, which has led to the series becoming one of Nintendo's leading franchises. As of March 2007, over 7,000,000 units of games from the Animal Crossing series have been sold.

Series

Games

Game	Format	First Released	Notes
Dōbutsu no Mori (どうぶつの森 lit. Animal Forest)	Nintendo 64	April 14, 2001 (JP)	First game in the series, released only in Japan.
Dōbutsu no Mori+ (どうぶつの森+ lit. Animal Forest+)	Nintendo GameCube	December 14, 2001 (JP)	GameCube port of Animal Forest. Uses the system's internal clock to keep track of the date and time.
Animal Crossing	Nintendo GameCube	September 15, 2002 (NA)	English language version of Animal Forest+, with numerous additions to the previous version, such as extra dialogue.
Dōbutsu no Mori e+ (どうぶつの森+ lit. Animal Forest e-Plus)	Nintendo GameCube	June 27, 2003 (JP)	Japanese release of Animal Crossing, containing the additions from the English language version, and even more new material, including new holidays.
Animal Crossing: Wild World (Known as Oideyo Dōbutsu no Mori in Japan, おいでよ どうぶつの森)	Nintendo DS	November 23, 2005 (JP)	The second internationally-released game in the series and the first to utilize online play with the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
Animal Crossing: City Folk	Wii	November 16, 2008 (NA)	A Wii version featuring a new explorable city area and online voice chat using Wii Speak.

Movies

Title	Released	Notes
Dōbutsu no Mori	December 16, 2006 (JP)	Anime film based on the Animal Crossing series, released only in Japan. Ai, a self-reliant girl who moves to Animal Village, makes friends with various animal residents.

Manga

Title	Author	Notes
Doubutsu no Mori Hohinda Mura Yori	Abe Sayori	Kodomo Manga series based on Series, in Japanese only.

Gameplay

Despite its ad infinitum nature, the game presents several tasks, including the capture of each fish and insect. Some types of fish and insects are only available during certain parts of the year or at specific times. Both fish and insects can be donated to the museum, kept in the house as a decoration, or sold to shopkeeper Tom Nook. The game keeps record of which insects and fish the player has caught.

Insects

Capturing insects requires a net, which can be purchased at Tom Nook's store. Most insects can be found during the summer, while very few are available during winter. Most insects can be located based on the insects' volume, tone, and direction of chirping, or through careful inspection of trees and flowers. Pill bugs must be found by using shovels or axes to hit rocks, and bees must be caught before they have the chance to sting the player and leave his/her left eye swollen shut. Ants and cockroaches may be lured by spoiled turnips or Halloween candy left on the ground. Fleas may be caught by swinging the net at another animal when small dots can be seen jumping on them. The player's reward for capturing every type of insect is the golden net, which is larger than the standard net.

Fish

Catching fish requires a fishing pole, which is also available for purchase at Tom Nook's store. Ponds, lakes, rivers, and the ocean are available for fishing. Certain fish live only in certain bodies of water, and some fish can only be found in the rain, or at certain times of the day and year. The player's reward for capturing every type of fish is the golden fishing rod, which causes fish to stay on the line longer which makes it easier to catch fish.

Fossils

To dig up fossils, the player must use a shovel. Initially, fossils unearthed are unidentified. In Animal Crossing, the player must send by mail to the Farway Museum to identify the fossil; in Wild World and City Folk, the player instead asks the museum curator, Blathers, to identify it. Once identified, fossils can be sold to Tom Nook, donated to the museum, or displayed in the player's house.

Gyroids

Gyroids in Animal Crossing resemble clay figures, and are found in the ground, usually after it has rained in the game. In the Japanese version of the game, "gyroids" are called haniwa, after a kind of archaeological artifact native to Japan. Gyroids make various sounds at intervals determined by the music the player has chosen to play in his or her house. In the GameCube version of the game, a player can sell items, save progress, and perform other actions via a gyroid stationed at the player's house. In City Folk, the player may store gyroids with Brewster, the coffeemaker at The Roost, once they develop a bond with him.

Pitfalls

Pitfalls are an item that, upon burial, cause all who step over them to fall into pits where they were buried. Pitfalls can be obtained by talking to villagers, digging them up, or looking in the lost and found (located at the Police Station in Animal Crossing and with gatekeeper Booker in Wild World). In Animal Crossing, non-villager NPCs are not affected by pitfalls. The name of the item was changed from "pitfall" to "pitfall seed" in Wild World.

Balloons

Occasionally, a balloon will float by the player in the air, carrying along a present for the player. In Animal Crossing, the player must follow the drifting present until it gets caught in a tree. In Wild World and City Folk, the player can use a slingshot to pop it.

Axes

Players can purchase an axe to cut down unwanted trees, but the axe will eventually break after enough uses. A golden axe is awarded to players in Animal Crossing who beautify the town by following the Wishing Well's instructions consistently long enough. In Wild World, however, the player must do the "red turnip trade" and follow a series of other trades with other special visitors such as K.K. Slider, Saharah, Tom Nook, Crazy Redd, and Pascal to obtain the Golden Axe. In City Folk, the silver axe is introduced as a slightly inferior counterpart to the golden axe. Both axes may be obtained randomly from the goddess Serena once the player has a fountain built in his or her town.

Patterns

For 350 bells, players may design patterns at the village tailor shop, the Able Sisters, run by sister hedgehogs Mabel and Sable Able. These patterns can be used for wallpaper, flooring, umbrellas, and shirts. In Animal Crossing, the player can use the pattern on the door of his/her house. Players can also use the Game Boy Advance, hooked up to the Nintendo GameCube with a GCN-GBA link cable, to design for free. After a player designs patterns, they can put up to eight of them on display at the tailor shop: four as shirts, and four as umbrellas. In Wild World, all eight patterns are displayed as shirts. Displaying patterns allows the other villagers to wear them. If players put up signs of those patterns around town, they become more popular. Mabel tells the player the most popular shirt and umbrella patterns if asked. Also, in Wild World, there are eight starter designs on display in the Able sisters' shop, all made by players in a town called Treehut. In City Folk, players may edit designs without the Able Sisters for free. However, a new variety of patterns called Pro Designs can still be made for 350 bells at the Able Sisters' shop. Pro Designs allow the player to edit the front and back of a shirt, as well as the left and right sleeves individually.

Headgear

If the player's character is a boy, then he wears a stereotypical Viking-styled hat. If the player's character is a girl, then she wears a cone-styled hat. In Wild World, there are several different shapes of hats available, but players can also go "hatless" and choose a hairstyle in the hair salon at Nookington's. In City Folk, a player may choose to use the face of a Mii as a "mask", which precludes wearing any headgear, or get a hairstyle in the city at Shampoodles.

Happy Room Academy

Once a player finishes Tom Nook's chores, the Happy Room Academy ("HRA") begins judging the interior design of the player's house. Judging takes place every other day in Animal Crossing and every Sunday in Wild World and City Folk. If the player changes their interior since the previous inspection, the HRA sends the player a letter informing them of their rating. The HRA judges the first and second floors of a player's house according to a point system. On earning certain numbers of points, the player receives prizes. In City Folk, the player can sign up for the Happy Room Academy in an office in the city.

Shopping

In Animal Crossing, the primary method of obtaining new items is by purchasing them from Tom Nook's shop. When players begin their adventure, the store is an understocked, tiny shack-like building, called Nook's Cranny. As players progress through the game, Tom Nook expands his store at intervals, making it larger and increasing the daily inventory.

Thousands of bells must be spent at each interval for Nook to upgrade his shop. Eventually, a department store is opened, called Nookington's, staffed by Nook and young twin raccoons named Tommy and Timmy.

At the end of every month in Animal Crossing, Nook runs a raffle, which players can enter by handing over five raffle tickets, won by buying furniture, wallpaper, flooring, clothes, and umbrellas over the course of the month. Items cannot be purchased or sold on Raffle Day. Tickets for a particular month must be used in that month, but of any year; e.g. a set of April tickets obtained in 2006 cannot be used in May 2006, but can be used in April 2007.

Feng Shui

Certain furniture items in the game have the properties of Feng Shui. If certain colored items are placed on specific sides of the player's house, the player will have an increased chance of finding rare items, Bells, or both. The use of Feng Shui will also result in a higher Happy Room Academy score. Other items, such as trophies and items received on holidays, will provide good luck in money and items regardless of placement or color.

Characters

Brewster

Brewster is a pigeon barista who works at The Roost coffee bar in the museum basement. He appears first in Wild World, and again in City Folk. Various characters visit The Roost, and as the player visits more regularly, Brewster will become warmer, beginning to offer them pigeon milk in their coffee and to store gyroids.

Blanca

Blanca is a white cat who, in Animal Crossing, occasionally appears on the train when the player is traveling to another town. Every time she appears, the player can draw her a face on a pixelated grid, with her explanation being that she lost it. In Wild World, she occasionally appears in town, with the same purpose. In City Folk, if internet access is available and the player turns on the "mysterious cat" option via the phone in their house's attic, Blanca occasionally visits.

Officer Copper and Booker

In Animal Crossing, Officer Copper is the head dog of the Police Station. He stands outside the Police Station and tells the player of upcoming news or the location of visitors in their town. On summer mornings, he hosts a morning workout regime. In Wild World and City Folk, he is dressed as a guard who resides in the Town Gate, providing options like Wi-Fi Connecting, and getting a friend code.

In Animal Crossing, Officer Booker is a dog and the secondary officer of the Police Station. He is in charge of the interior of the police station and the lost and found department. In Wild World and City Folk, he serves the same purpose at the town gate.

Redd

Redd is a fox who appears in town periodically in a back tent selling furniture. His items sometimes consist of Nintendo items like the Triforce and Master Sword. Some of Redd's items are highly rare, but many can be found in Nook's store for a much cheaper price. In City Folk Redd's store is in the less colorful part of the city. In order to enter his building the player must have an invitation from a villager. His store is not open every day; sometimes it closes when someone buys all of his furniture.

Gracie

Gracie is a giraffe who appears occasionally in town. When spoken to, she gives the player the option to play a mini-game to wash her car as fast as possible. If the player does a respectable job cleaning her car, Gracie will give them an item of clothing. If done well, they will receive an exclusive Gracie brand item not available anywhere else. Gracie gives the player a "Fashionista Quiz" in Wild World. Depending on the answers, she may give a letter stating what she thinks of the player's style and include a shirt. In City Folk Gracie has a store that has most of her rare designs in it. Gracie appears in her store occasionally, while Labelle, a hedgehog like the Able Sisters, works as the store clerk every day.She appears in the store,she asks you if you want a fashion tip, if she likes your clothes, accesories, hat, and shoes, she gives you a 10% of discount of all the shop.

Harriet

Harriet is a poodle, who owns the "Shampoodle" hair salon. She first appears in Wild World; her salon is on the ground floor of the final upgrade of Nookington's, and she offers haircuts in various colors. In City Folk, her salon is in its own building in the city, and in addition to the haircuts she also sells Mii masks for the same price.

Kapp'n

Kapp'n is a turtle (in Japanese, カメ, or Kappa (folklore)) who is often seen transporting people by many means. He originally was a captain of a ship, and takes players on their journey to the Game Boy Advance Island. He is later seen driving a cab in Animal Crossing: Wild World, and the bus in City Folk.

Kicks

Kicks is a male skunk found only in City Folk. He can be seen in the city, in front of a boarded-up building, during daylight hours. He offers the character a shoe shine, which involves changing the color or style of the character's shoes. He appears only if the weather that day is fair.

K.K. Slider

In Animal Crossing, K.K. Slider is a singing dog who appears outside the train station every Saturday night from 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.. In Wild World and City Folk, he appears every Saturday between 7:30 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. at The Roost, a café located in the basement of the museum; however, the player cannot listen to his music until 8:00 p.m.. After every performance, if the player has room in their inventory, K.K. gives them a tape of his song adapted for playing on an in-game stereo.

Labelle

In City Folk, Labelle works for the GracieGrace store in the city. Often, female city inhabitants want to know where she got her clothes. If the player puts 10,000 bells into the ABD (Automatic Bell Dispenser), they receive a shopping card (debit card) in the mail from GracieGrace, which can only be used at that store.

Lloid

Lloid is the gyroid that is in charge of the City Folk auction house. He allows the player to display items, bid on other players' items, or allow the player to store items.If you are connet to Wi-fi the item that are display can display in others town, and viceversa.

Lyle

Lyle is an otter that works for the Happy Room Academy and sells insurance in Wild World (which allows the character to get paid 100 bells if he/she trips or get stung by a bee). In City Folk he works for the HRA building and displays model rooms in the back of the building.

Mabel and Sable

Mabel and Sable are hedgehog sisters who run a tailoring store. Mabel is the saleswoman; Sable is the elder work-focused seamstress. Sable does not initially wish to speak to the player, but a relationship can be built up to learn more of the sisters' back story.

Pascal

Pascal is an otter who appears in Wild World and City Folk. He stands near a regular land spot near the beach and gives players odd advice. After he is done, he performs a back flip into the water. He is an obvious stereotype of a hippie. In City Folk, he can be found standing on a bridge, where he will give the player a rare item in exchange for a scallop.

Pelly and Phyllis

Pelly is a friendly female Pelican who works in the post office in the daytime. Throughout the game there are references to an alleged relationship with Pete, the mailman, including certain female villagers gossiping and Pelly trying to "fool" players on April Fools' Day.

Phyllis is a gruff female Pelican who works in the Post Office at night. She often insults the player under her breath. Pete the mail man is seem in love with Phyllis. She can sometimes be seen at The Roost in Wild World and City Folk.

Pete

Pete is a male pelican who delivers the town's mail twice a day. His conversation often revolves around drama about his relationships with his co-workers.

Phineas

Phineas is a sea lion in City Folk who hands out accessories like balloons and pinwheels, which all first appeared in the original Animal Crossing. Phineas comes to the city periodically, but not every day.

Porter

Porter is a monkey who works at the train station in the original Animal Crossing, and who will help the player take a trip to other towns. He works outdoors 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Has two brothers (Port & Pirt) who will be found on the train after the player pays off their full loan. Port rides the train and Pirt patrols the hallway (which could be seen when traveling). Porter is absent in Wild World, and Kapp'n takes his place in City Folk. City Folk features a monkey neighbor named Champ, who looks almost identical to Porter.

Resetti

Resetti is a mole who appears every time the game is reset, immediately appearing outside their character's house, scolding them for doing so. If the player keeps resetting, Resetti threatens to, but never does, delete their town. The European City Folk manual warns that young children may find Resetti's authoratitive tone of voice disturbing. There is a Easter egg in City Folk that allows the player to enter Resetti's "surveillance center" in the rightmost part of the city after 8:00 p.m. In his surveillance center, Resetti will give players the Silver Shovel if they talk to him. Resetti's brother Don also makes sporadic appearances.

Rover

Rover is the blue and white cat the player meets at the start of the game. He asks to sit down next to the player on the train or bus, and depending the player's answers to his questions, their face, gender, name, and town name are determined. He only appears in Wild World as a visitor to Brewster's, but in City Folk returns to his previous function.

Saharah

Saharah is a traveling camel who occasionally comes to town to sell rare carpets. She asks for a "trade-off", which involves trading a carpet the player owns, plus a fee, for one of hers. Most of her items are very expensive and she becomes saddened and leaves if the player refuses to buy from her. In Wild World, she gives the player the objective of delivering wallpaper or carpets to town residents, such as Pelly or Blathers, in exchange for a rare carpet or wallpaper. In City Folk she tells the player to get "old carpets" and "old wallpapers" from the villagers, and will exchange floorings and wallpapers, respectively, for each item brought to her.

Dr. Shrunk

Dr.Shrunk is an axolotl who appears in Wild World and City Folk. In Wild World he randomly comes to town and gives the player a random emotion. In City Folk, he appears in The Marquee (the theater) where the player can pick which emotion to get.

Timmy and Tommy

Timmy and Tommy are tanukis who appear in each game as the top floor workers for Tom Nook's last store expansion, Nookington's. They are Tom Nook's nephews, and often speak in tandem.

Tom Nook

Tom Nook is a tanuki (raccoon) who owns the general store in the town. When the player's character first arrives in town, Nook will sell the player a house. Because the player does not have enough money, Tom Nook lets the player mortgage the house. Each time the player pays off their debt, Nook expands their house by expanding the size of the main floor or adding another floor. When the player's character fully pays off its last debt, Nook erects in the players likeness a commemorative golden statue placed in front of the train station.

The shop will start off as "Nook's Cranny," a small general store. As the player spends more money, it expands to "Nook 'N' Go," a convenience store; then "Nookway," a supermarket; and finally "Nookington's," a department store where he works with his two nephews, Timmy and Tommy. During renovation, the shop will close for one day. The player can perform various functions at Nook's store, including buying and selling items, browsing through their personal catalog of previously purchased goods, or entering secret codes.

Tortimer

Tortimer is an elderly tortoise and mayor of the town. When the player first meets him, he introduces himself; he later asks the player's opinion about where to construct a new bridge. If the player talks to him on holidays, he gives the player gifts related to that holiday; for example, in fall, he accepts acorns in exchange for a series of "mush" furniture. On New Year's Eve, he gives the player a party popper.

References in Super Smash Bros.

Animal Crossing characters and items have appeared many times in the latter two entries of Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. series.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Mr. Resetti, Tom Nook and K.K. Slider appear as trophies players can collect in the game. Because the game predated the release of the GameCube iteration of the series (the first one to be released in North America), their first appearances are listed as "Future Release". Also, K.K. Slider's trophy's name is translated directly as his Japanese name, Totakeke.

The series has more significant cameos in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Included in Brawl are an item (the Pitfall, described below), several trophies (including ones for Redd, Sahara, Tom Nook, Timmy and Tommy, Pelly and Phyllis), an assist trophy (Mr. Resetti) and a stage ("Smashville"). The time of day and scenery for the stage is determined by the Wii's internal clock in a similar method to the Animal Crossing series. Special events also occur during specific times and dates at which the stage is played; for example, at 8 p.m. on Saturdays, K.K. Slider appears and hosts a guitar performance. The stage is influenced by Animal Crossing: Wild World. Several songs from Animal Crossing: Wild World play on this stage.

On July 31, 2007, the Pitfall item was announced on the Smash Bros. Dojo!! website as a usable item in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. When used, it temporarily traps the one hit by it in a pit, like in the game. However, it only traps the one hit if they are in contact with the ground, otherwise it functions as a throwing weapon that causes the victim to rapidly descend to the ground upon impact.